Discussions about Russian History > Imperial Russian History

Prohibition in Imperial Russia

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thedarkone:
Hey, can anyone give me a little more information about prohibition in Imperial Russia? I've read it was widely supported, but that it was just for public places? I'm a little unclear, because I've read accounts, memoirs, anecdotes that still involved booze after the time it was imposed. Any extra info or reading materials I could use would be greatly appreciated.

duke felix:
I believe it only applied during the years of WW1, and it wasn't a blanket ban. Vodka was made illegal as it was viewed to impact the productivity of workers and soldiers whereas the champagne drunk by the aristocracy remained legal.

Nictionary:
My understanding is that vodka could still be served in private clubs and restaurants.  But I was recently reading elsewhere about the ban and came to wonder the same thing as OP, which is why I'm reopening this dormant thread.  It goes without saying that the ban in Russia was as effective as in the US, but I wonder if these references to drinking vodka in this time period involve samogon, if they were people's private stocks left over from before 1914 or taken home from clubs and restaurants, if Russia had a thriving bootleg industry like the US, and/or if what other loopholes existed to obtain vodka.

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